8Grant of licences: general
(1)Subject to the following provisions of this Act, the regulator may grant a licence under this Act if the regulator thinks fit.
(2)The regulator may grant a licence under this Act only if satisfied that doing so—
(a)will not impair the national security of the United Kingdom;
(b)is consistent with the international obligations of the United Kingdom;
(c)is not contrary to the national interest.
(3)The regulator may not grant an application for a licence under this Act unless satisfied that—
(a)the applicant has the financial and technical resources to do the things authorised by the licence, and is otherwise a fit and proper person to do them;
(b)the persons who are expected to do, on the applicant’s behalf, any of the things authorised by the licence are fit and proper persons to do them.
(4)If the regulator is not the Secretary of State, the regulator may grant a licence under this Act only with the consent of the Secretary of State.
(5)Regulations may make provision about how applications for licences are to be made, considered and determined.
(6)The regulations may in particular prescribe, or provide for a person responsible for determining an application to specify—
(a)the form and contents of an application for a licence;
(b)information to be provided in connection with an application;
(c)the procedure for rectifying procedural irregularities;
(d)time limits for doing anything required to be done in connection with an application and the procedure for extending any period so prescribed.
(7)The regulations may also provide for—
(a)the inspection of sites, facilities, equipment, spacecraft, carrier aircraft and other vehicles, and
(b)the obtaining of information (whether by inspecting documents, interviewing individuals or otherwise),
by prescribed persons or persons of prescribed descriptions.